Island



(No Model.) I

' D. M. SMALL.

STEAM GONDUIT FOR DENTAL SURGERY. No. 408,899. Patented Aug. 13, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DEXTER M. SMALL, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

STEAM-CONDUIT FOR DENTAL SURGERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,899, dated August 13, 1889.

Application filed April 1, 1889. Serial No. 305,603. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, DEXTER M. SMALL, of the city and county of Providence, in' the State of Rhode Island, have invented an improved device for making external applications of steam, especially to the cavity of a tooth, for temporarily allaying the sensibility thereof, removing inflammation, and destroying the bacteria therein, of which the following is a specification.

The accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, is aside view, partly in section, of an instrument which embodies my invention.

M yimprovem ent consists in combining with a steam-generator F, wherever placed, (whether on floor, shelf, or table, or supported in the hand of the operator,) an outlet-pipe H, either rigid or flexible, leading therefrom to point of contact, with or without a section A impervious to heat for protecting the surroundiug parts (especially mouth or face) against accidental injury, and with a comparativelydiminutive orifice, with or without a close fitting nozzle B, free to turn radially therein, for convenience in reaching different points or cavities. The inner end of this orifice, as also of the nozzle, is separated by a sharp angle from the walls of the main outlet-pipe, so that the water produced by condensation of steam therein cannot come in contact with it and thus be forced out with the steam. The little annular well around this orifice and nozzle within the pipe is fol-holding the water which condenses while the pipe is being used in a position which inclines toward the poi ntA.

My improvement further consist-s in combining with this outlet-pipe, so that it can be conveniently controlled by the finger of the operator, a device for regulating the force with which the steam issues from the orifice or nozzle B.

It consists of a lever E, which operates to open and close a small vent O for the escape of the steam. This lever could be extended so as to connect with and adjust the burner of lamp G, which would accomplish the same purpose.

The section A is preferably constructed of hard rubber, with thick walls, as shown. The dotted lines indicate a variation of my device, whereby an enlarged chamber or receptacle for the condensed steam could be used with a smaller outlet-pipe, though preferable to have the pipe of sufficient diameter to afford the requisite space therefor withoutsuch receptacle.

1 claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with the conduit or outlet-pipe of a device for utilizing therapeutically a jet of steam, as set forth, of a short and comparatively-diminutive nozzle, free to turn radially independentthereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the conduit or outlet-pipe of a device for utilizing therapeutically a jet of steam, as set forth, of an orifice or nozzle havingits inner end,which is within the conduit, raised above or separated by a sharp angle from the inner walls thereof, so that the water produced by condensation of steainwitliiii the conduit shall not come in contact therewith.

3. The combination, with the conduit or outlet-pipe of a device for utilizing therapeutically a jet of steam, as set forth, of a receptacle for holding the water produced by condensation of steam within the conduit.

4. The combination, with a device for utilizing therapeutically a jet of steam, as set forth, of a pipe or conduit the outer section or end of which that contains the orifice or aperture for the nozzle is composed of nonconducting material, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the conduit or outlet-pipe of a device for utilizing therapeutically a jet of steam, as set forth, of a lever E, connected with a valve D and vent C, and arranged so as to be under the control of the operators finger, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

DEXTER M. SMALL.

Vitnesses:

J OSEPH H. PERKINS, HARRY O. HOWARD. 

